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� 8.A. - Page 58 Appeal o� the Kedwood City Piaz�ning Corrunission's Ceztif"icatian of the Fir�aI EIR August 31, 2010 Page 5 of 8 eharacter and quality o� the site and its surraundings. If t�e Commissi�n does not yet krAOw what havv development is going ta appe� visually, we da not see how it can conclvde c�ithaut a doubt that there is no aesthe�ic impaet or certify an ElR vvith tYze m�ztigation zneasures it has adopted. • The �EIR does not address potential soil erosion caused Ly the loss of mature tree root systems that support earth stability in t�e area. The removal of c�ver half of the trees which curren�Iy szgni�cantly contribute ta the hi�lside's sta�ilization (botl� above and beiow Lauxel Way) are proposed �o be replaced by trees that vc�ill take over five years tti estab�ish raot systems and provide re-stabilization suppo�rt. The Commissian's response to thi.s conc�rn, r.e., that this z�a.itigation m.easure will eliminate any significant environrnental impact, amounts to nQ more than a leap af fa.ith since the Cornrrussion lacks the reports and izzfarma�ion to kno�v if mitigation wouid be successfui (we do not be�ieve it would be), Mar�over, the reports and mitigatiion st�idies t�� Commission does k�ave do not account for consecutive winter seasons az�d t�eir effeets an erosion and darnage from th� �e� adation that will accur during the development and constructio� phases. • The FEIR does nat address potential "generation of excessiv� groundboz�e vibratzon or groundborne noise Iev�ls" (as required by the CEQA Ez�vironmenta] Check.�ist), which, r�igk�t be assumed to acc�az when geology mitigations call far "drilled pier foundatians and compacted e� gineered �ll." (FEIR Nlitigatio�a Measure Geolo�y-1, noting the need for drill�d pier founda�ons.} • '��e FEIR refers tc� the "temporary" nature of the significa�t air qu�3.ity ar,d noise impact ca�sed by prc�ject develapzraent and eonstruction. Tbe FEIR ornits mentioning in this context that sucY� construction is propased to cantin�e for up to nine years {alt�ough it does mention that tree rernova.2 and heavy constnactio� wzll en�ue for the entire const�c�ion period. (See DETR, sec. 3: Environrnental �ipact Analysis, 3_ 1 Aesfhetics.) The mitigation measures atternpt to addzess is�lated ob,�ect�onable irnpacts, but do nat capture the cumulative effect of 8-p�us years of th�se condit�c�ns. It is a foregone canclusion that sdine neighbors, part�c�la€rly those �c�usehQlds w�th e�derly resider.ts and children wilI quite Iiteralty be farced fram their homes as a result of increased tra�fic, noise, redu�.ed air q�ality, risk of landsIides azid the c�nstar�t presence of heavy construct�on